Britney Spears’ brother addresses Free Britney movement, says controversial conservatorship is ‘a great thing for our family’
Britney Spears with her brother Bryan (Getty)
Britney Spears’ brother Bryan has said the singer’s 12-year conservatorship has been “a great thing” for their family, but admitted that the star has “always wanted to get out” of it.
Spears was placed in a conservatorship in 2008 following a public mental health crisis. The measure, known as a guardianship in some states, is implemented when a court decrees that a person is unable to care for themselves.
The “Toxic” singer has had much of her personal affairs – including her finances, mental health and music career – controlled by legal guardians (mostly her dad, Jamie Spears) under the terms of the conservatorship since 2008.
Now, the singer’s brother has spoken out for the first time about the conservatorship – which has become the subject of a fan campaign to “Free Britney Spears” – and revealed that she has always wanted out.
Speaking on the As Not Seen on TV Podcast, Bryan Spears said: “She’s been in this thing for quite some time now. Obviously there was a need for it in the beginning.
“Now they’ve made some changes and all we can do is hope for the best,” he added.
Britney Spears has ‘always wanted to get out’ of her conservatorship, her brother said.
He said some fans believe Britney Spears is being “held against her will in some capacity” but insisted that the conservatorship has been “a great thing” for their family and said they “keep hoping for the best”.
“We kind of came together and not everybody agreed with it either; everyone had their own opinion like, maybe we should do it this way or that way,” he said.
“But at the end I think we made the right choice.”
Bryan said their father Jamie has “done the best he could, given the situation he was put in” and said they had to “work together as a family to keep it all going”.
“One person might be on stage and doing this, but it’s a sacrifice from everybody,” he said.
“Everyone is putting in, to some degree, a little bit to keep everything going.”
I know what she wants but at the end of the day, what is the reality of that? What is the practicality of that?
Bryan Spears said he and his pop star sister “speak constantly” and claimed to understand her feelings on the conservatorship.
“She’s always wanted to get out of it. It’s very frustrating to have.
“Whether someone’s coming in peace to help or coming in with an attitude, having someone constantly tell you to do something has got to be frustrating.
“She’s wanted to get out of it for quite some time.”
Bryan Spears said Britney has been “surrounded by a team of people since she was 15”.
“So at what level does everyone walk away or at what level does that get reduced?”
He continued: “I know what she wants but at the end of the day, what is the reality of that? What is the practicality of that? So are you going to call and make reservations for yourself today?”
Britney’s brother suggested that the singer could struggle with a number of daily tasks if released from the conservatorship.
“I’m sure it’s going to be an adjustment. Let’s say it does get let go and she’s on her own – everyday task stuff is probably … it’s a great challenge, but it’s probably going to be. Like driving.
“She’s the worst driver in the world – I’m not lying. I mean bless her heart, she really is not a really good driver and she hasn’t had to do that.”
Calls to “Free Britney” have reached a fever pitch in recent weeks as fans of the star become increasingly convinced that she is being prevented from making her own decisions about her life and career.
Her conservatorship was addressed at a Los Angeles court on Wednesday (23 July), where the judge agreed to Jamie Spears’ request that the guardianship be locked from public view.
Outside the court, around a dozen “Free Britney” protesters held signs and placards calling for the singer to be released from her conservatorship.
Some have called for Spears to have her own legal representation, with a Change.org petition racking up more than 230,000 signatures.
